Maple Avenue Elementary School fifth-graders, through their Uniting Kids and Community (UKC) program, launched their first global service project called, “Kids for Clean Water Drive.”
Partnered with ITT and Water for People, students are raising money to help bring safe water and sanitation to schools in water-stressed regions of developing countries, improving the lives of hundreds of thousands of children and their families.
The Maple Avenue fifth-graders delivered grade-level appropriate presentations to teach students about the lack of water in schools around the world and what they can do to help. The presentations will help students understand the importance of conserving water.
Fifth-graders sold “Kids for Clean Water” water bottles for $3.50 beginning in April. Students who purchased a water bottle will have the opportunity to fill it will ice cold water during their lunch time May 10-14 for 25 cents. A special drink will be for sale on May 14 for 50 cents. Students who didn’t purchase a bottle can bring one from home or use the cups provided. Proceeds from the sales will go towards the “Kids for Clean Water Drive” fund.
Of the world’s primary schools, 50 percent lack safe drinking water for their students and 75 percent lack adequate sanitation facilities. The average American uses 168 gallons of water per day, while the average person in water-stressed countries uses about three gallons per day. Many children in other countries who drink dirty water end up very sick from diseases in the water and often die. A child dies every 15 seconds from a water-related disease and 50 percent of the world’s hospital beds are occupied by someone sick with a water-related illness.